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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFTTH Project Plan Public :� ar7Dis � iYt . Staff Report To: Board of Directors From: Alan Harry, Director of Telecommunications Services Date: May 15, 2002 Subject: Consideration of Broadband Issues— FTTH Project Plan As we move closer to revising our Broadband Proforma, preparing bid specifications, awarding bids and constructing a Broadband system within the District's service area there are a number of tasks that must be completed in a timely fashion. Not only must we hire a Project Manager to insure that construction standards are met, negotiate a Franchise Agreement with the Town of Truckee and Placer and Nevada Counties, and meet those conditions set in place by Nevada County LAFCo, but we have FCC Licensing, Programming Contracts, and a plethora of other items to complete. We have asked that the Board hold a Special Meeting on May 22, 2002, to provide Board members and the public with an understanding of the work that must be completed prior to turning on the District's first Broadband customer, and to state staffs recommendations for Board action at your next regular meeting, June 5, 2002. To date, District Staff have worked on Broadband projects in a lineal manner. Taking on one project at a time, receiving Board approval each step of the way prior to moving on to the next project. In this way the District has insured that a great amount of due diligence has been undertaken, studying virtually every aspect of the proposed systems design, potential services and viability. If we were to continue to follow this path, taking on one project at a time, it could effectively take 1,285 business days to complete the project, not including the time to construct the systems infrastructure. On the other hand, if the District were to enlist the services of consultants specializing in specific areas, and conduct work on a number of tasks at once, the same amount of work could be completed in less than 365 days. Attached for your review is a "Project" spread sheet showing the tasks to be completed prior to providing services to the District's first Broadband customer, the estimated amount of time 0 Page 1 it will take to complete each task, and the proposed project resources. As you can see, working on projects in a planned consecutive manner will allow the District's proposed Broadband project to be completed in a timely manner. In that District staff does not wish to begin work on any portion of this overall project without Board authorization, it is recommended that: 1. The Board approve the District's entry into the business of providing Broadband services. This could be done with the understanding that, at any point during the process of planning and constructing the system, the Board could vote to rescind their previous action; and 2. The Board direct their Director of Telecommunication Services to create a Technology Advisory Committee to assist in the analysis of Back Office Support System (BSS) and Operational Support System (OSS) software, and the District's Fiber to the Home (FTTH)design. 9 Page 2 august tSeptemtier __--� �" July te 'Alcatel June Task Name - pEH --"--{ ~` a Cesign to FTTN lease FinanCing . Federal Grants and Loans 3 Town and Counties -.�AEH PSG . Negotiate Franchise with Forums is le Technology pEH - Hold multip a -- _ Revise PrOtOrma S ecifications Prepare Infrastructure Bid P s i Hire Project manager 9 in LAFCo approval Att Lin ucture Bid Advertise Infrastr Locate and Purchase OSS d purchase BSS { Locate an 12 i FCC Licensing nd Award Infrastructure Bid _ Review and a i i Construct infrastructure Forums Hold multiple Prograd Train Smming CSR's "R iT Manager to Hire an taffing: � and Packaging "s ei Lfne p -_ Create Chan n is ming contracts Negotiate Program 20 - Marketing installation Contractor Contract wl , Locate and d Program Contracts Award 21 ith ISP Partner Locate and Contract w Light up 1 st Customers _zs Locate an d Contract with CLEC ---- Externa�Tasks 2a $ StemEXternal Milestone Certify Y -' Milestone L-------_' Summary peedilne v Task 'ect Summary split ___...�. Prof Next Steps In order for staff to complete the requirements set forth by Nevada County LAFCo the Board must consider making the following actions: 1. Approve the District's entry into the provision of Broadband Services; 2. Authorize staff to enter into formal negotiations with the Town of Truckee and Counties of Nevada and Placer for the provision of video services; 3. Authorize staff to begin holding Technology and Programming Forums; 4. Authorize staff to communicate the aforementioned Actions to Nevada County LAFCo. It is recommended that the Board direct staff to place the above items on their June 5ch Board agenda for consideration, and action. J Technology Forums In order to keep District customers apprised of activities undertaken to one day provide Broadband Services, staff will hold Technology Forums to discuss service delivery methods,system capabilities and other related issues. These Forums will be held in the District's Board Room,will be advertised and open to the public. Programming Forums In order to gather public input on the type of video programming to be offered on the District's Broadband System, staff will hold a number of Programming Forums to discuss the varying types of video programming available. The information gathered at these Forums may be used,if the Board so desires,in creating the tiers of service and their content. Staff will provide Forum attendees with information on those video programming services currently available. These Forums will be held in the District's Board Room,will be advertised and open to the public. LAFCo In January of 2001 the Nevada County Commissioners voted to Conditionally Approve the District request to activate its latent power to provide"telecommunication services and other forms of communication". At that time the Commission set out three conditions that the District must meet prior to receiving a Certificate of Compliance. These conditions are: 1. Prepare a draft Master Services Element stating the services to be provided by the District's proposed Broadband System that would be incorporated into the District's Sphere of Influence Plan. To date the District has virtually completed the draft Master Services Element. It is estimated that an additional ten working days are required to complete it. 2. That the District applies for and obtains Franchise Agreements with the Town of Truckee,Nevada County and Placer County. To date District staff has held preliminary meeting with the Town of Truckee,Nevada and Placer Counties,in preparation of formal Franchise negotiations. 3. That the District adopt a risk mitigation plan to ensure that the District's electric and water ratepayers will not be required to subsidize the new services, or repay the debt incurred for the new services. To date the District has entered into a contract with Aggregate Networks to assist in obtaining financing for the District's Broadband System. This financing will not be predicated on the use of electric and water rate payer's moneys to subsidize or repay any debt pertaining to the Broadband System. It is staff and legal counsels belief that this form of financing fully mitigates any risk to the District. AS such,the final financing documents will be submitted to LAFCo for review.